Please Support High-Skilled Immigration Reform and a National STEM Education Fund

America faces a chronic shortage of skilled workers qualified in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The U.S. Senate has taken positive action to address this challenge by passing legislation (S. 744) that includes high-skilled immigration reform and the creation of a national STEM education fund, paid for only by businesses that use high-skilled visas and green cards, not individual taxpayers or other businesses.

Now we need the U.S. House of Representatives to take action, too.

Please write to your U.S. Representative to voice your support for high-skilled immigration and the national STEM fund. We need to tell them to keep moving forward on skilled immigration reform.

Letter to

U.S. House of Representatives

Our nation faces an enormous shortage of people with the scientific and technical skills needed to succeed in the 21st century.

We need to address the skills gap for the near- and long-term by passing high-skilled immigration reform and creating a national STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) education fund.

Our educational system, particularly in K-12, has not kept pace with America’s digital economy. In turn, too few American university students pursue degrees in STEM fields. In 2011-2012, 57% of PhD enrollees in computer science were foreign students because of the shortage of qualified U.S. students.

We need an immigration system that enables American companies to hire highly educated, foreign-born computer scientists when necessary. We should not turn away people who have been educated here only to have them innovate and compete elsewhere, against the U.S., because they are not allowed to stay and work here after graduation.

While the need to expand high-skilled immigration is immediate, we also need to expand STEM opportunities in U.S. education. A positive proposal has emerged in Washington to create a national STEM education fund, paid for only by businesses using green cards and visas. This fund will help prepare Americans for 21st-century STEM jobs. The proposal is supported by a broad coalition that includes Microsoft, GE, the National Council of La Raza, the National Association of Manufactures, and the National Science Teachers Association, to name a few.

By combining the expansion of high-skilled immigration with U.S. STEM education, the proposal addresses the talent gap for the near- and long-term. Businesses will be able to hire needed employees, U.S. workers will be protected, and American students and families will benefit as well.

Thank you for your consideration of my views. As your constituent, I urge you to be a champion for reform. Please support the balanced policy represented by the SKILLS Visa Act (H.R. 2131) and ensure that STEM funding is included in any policy solution.